RYAN GIGGS has outlined what makes Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes so special as managers.

"There is one distinct similarity between the two of them - they are WINNERS," said the Manchester United and Wales ace.

"I've seen Sparky a few times down at United's training ground, just watching, listening and studying.

"Does he take managerial advice from Sir Alex? You will have to ask Sparky himself.

"But put it this way, he would be daft not to, wouldn't he?"

Giggs went on to explain how Ferguson has admired the work Hughes has done with Wales since becoming manager four years ago.

But Giggs stressed, "To be honest, the person least surprised by our success under Sparky is Sir Alex himself.

"He has seen us play a few times and he has been really impressed, but not surprised, by the way Sparky has turned our fortunes around."

Comparing his two current managers again, Giggs continued, "Sparky and Sir Alex are each their own man.

"But the biggest single comparison I can make between the pair of them is that fact that they are winners. No matter what they are playing - cards, snooker, golf, or, of course, football. That sort of attitude from the top filters down to the players. Sir Alex has done it over the past decade with United and Sparky has done it with Wales.

"Even when I play golf with Sparky, I can see his determination to beat me at that. He wants to win every round, I can see it in his eyes and the way he is focused.

"That 'winning' attitude has spilled over into the Wales dressing room. He has forced the belief into us players that we have the ability to win matches at the highest level, which we are doing.

"I've said for some time that the confidence of the Welsh side has become so much better under Sparky. Once that ball starts rolling in football, it is very hard to stop it. You get used to losing in football . . . and you get used to winning.

"Every time we pull on the red shirt under Sparky, we go out there with confidence and conviction.

"That is exactly the sort of feeling I've had at club level since breaking into United's first team as a 17-year-old.

"But it hasn't always happened in my Wales career, of course, until Sparky took over as manager."